Who is responsible for normal “wear and tear” of the vehicle?

Written by Charl Steyn Updated over a week ago

Normal “wear and tear” that is part of the normal operation of a vehicle is an inherent part of renting out a car; the owner is not “protected” against normal wear and tear, nor is the renter “responsible” for wear and tear resulting from normal usage of the car. Wear and tear may include engine wear, brake and suspension wear, weathering of the paint or minor scuffing of the interior surfaces, as well as small (less than 5 centimeter in length) nicks, scratches, abrasions or dents to the exterior (including wheels) normally associated with street parking, shopping cart bumps, and the like.

However, renters are fully responsible for, and RentMyRide does not provide any protection to renters for 1) any damage related to “misuse” or Prohibited Uses of the vehicle, 2) any damage to the interior of the car, or 3) any mechanical damage resulting from a renter’s improper driving (e.g, clutch damage from rough driving, suspension damage from running over speed bumps at high speed or into curbs, continuing to drive with warning indicator lights illuminated, etc).